Railways' freight revenue goes up by 15.85 per cent

New Delhi, Oct 17 (UNI) In continued buoyancy of its revenues, the Railways generated Rs 19,537.53 crore from freight traffic during the first six months of the current fiscal, ended September, as compared to Rs 16,863.94 crore during the corresponding period last year, registering an increase of 15.85 per cent.

The Railways carried 344.57 million tonnes of freight traffic during April-September as compared to 313.49 million tonnes during the corresponding period last year, an increase of 9.91 per cent.

The Net Tonne Kilo Metres (NTKM) went up from 20,6913 million during April-September 2005 to 2,26,501 million during April- September this year, an increase of 9.47 per cent.

The earnings from freight traffic during September this year were was Rs 3,203.12 crore as compared to Rs 2,738.77 crore during the corresponding period last year, showing an increase of 16.95 per cent.

The Railways carried 55.76 million tonnes (MTs) of freight traffic during the month as compared to 50.34 million tonnes of freight traffic during the corresponding period last year, registering an increase of 10.77 per cent.

The Net Tonne Kilo Metres (NTKM) went up from 33,311 million during September 2005 to 36,987 million during September this year, an increase of 11.04 per cent.

Of the total earnings during September this year, Rs. 1140.80 crore came from transportation of 22.83 million tonnes of coal, followed by Rs 312.60 crore from 3.77 million tonnes of food grains, Rs. 286.43 crore from 5.90 million tonnes of cement, Rs 246.59 crore from 3.52 million tonnes iron ore for exports and Rs 237.88 crore from 2.66 million tonnes of petroleum oil and lubricants (POL).

In addition, it earned Rs 165.31 crore from 1.66 million tonnes of iron and steel for steel plants, Rs 152.70 crore from 4.07 million tonnes of raw material for steel plants, Rs 150.86 crore from 2.72 million tonnes of fertilisers and Rs 509.95 crore from 8.63 million tonnes of other goods.

UNI/SKS CS KP1508